Block YouTube: 8 ways for your phone and computer

Blocking YouTube starts on the device you use to watch it. For your child, open parental controls such as Screen Time or Family Link. If you want fewer distractions yourself, choose a temporary website blocker. Always check both the app and the website. Removing only the app is not enough: YouTube may still be accessible through a browser.

See below which of the eight methods suits you and follow the steps for your device.

Which way of blocking YouTube is right for you?

First decide what you want to stop. Completely blocking YouTube requires different settings from reducing watch time or blocking one channel.

Do you share the same computer? Give your child their own user account and test the block from that account. When managing restrictions, choose a different code from the regular unlock code.

1. Block YouTube on iPhone and iPad with Screen Time

Open Screen Time in the iPhone or iPad settings. There you can view options for apps and websites separately. The options you see may depend on the software version and your family settings.

1. Choose whether you want to block YouTube completely or only limit watch time.
2. View the app limits. Set a time limit if you want less watch time. Even a short limit still allows access.
3. Want to remove the app? Then check whether you can also restrict reinstalling it.
4. Find the web content restrictions. Add YouTube to the blocked websites if that option is available.
5. Secure the settings with a code. Then test the app and website on your child’s device.

Dealing with only the app may leave the website open. So also try YouTube in a second browser if one is installed on the device. Can’t see a setting? First check whether you are managing the correct device or family account.

2. Block YouTube on Android with Family Link

Using Family Link for your child? First select the correct child and device. Then see which rules you can set for the YouTube app. The options are not the same on every phone.

1. Find YouTube in the list of apps you can manage.
2. Choose a block if that option is available. For less watch time, view the time limits.
3. Also restrict access through the browser. The following explanation about Chrome will help you do this.
4. Open YouTube on your child’s phone to see whether the setting works.

Another user profile or a browser outside the supervision may still provide access. Removing the icon from the home screen does not help: it does not block the app.

Is YouTube not listed among the apps you can manage? Check whether you selected the correct account and device. A blocked website does not mean the app is also blocked.

3. Block YouTube in Chrome and on Chromebook

With Family Link, you can block websites in Chrome. On some devices, your child may bypass supervision by signing out or using another browser.

1. Select your child’s account in Family Link.
2. Find the settings for websites in Chrome.
3. Add YouTube to the blocked sites. Check whether you are blocking one address or an entire domain: the name of a website.
4. Open Chrome with your child’s account and test whether YouTube still opens.

Try youtube.com, www.youtube.com and a short video link via youtu.be. This tests different addresses. It is not a complete list of all connections YouTube uses.

On a Chromebook, also check whether your child can use another account or the guest function. Is it a school device? Then only the administrator can change certain settings.

4. Block YouTube on Windows with Family Safety

For a family computer, you can consider Microsoft Family Safety. Have your child use their own Windows account first. Testing from your account does not show what your child can open.

1. Check whether your child’s account is covered by your family settings.
2. See whether you can filter websites for that account and device.
3. Read which browser the filter works with. A rule does not automatically apply to Edge, Chrome and Firefox.
4. Add YouTube to the websites you want to block.
5. Log in with your child’s account and try YouTube in every installed browser.

Your child may still be able to watch through a browser where the filter does not work. Also check whether your child can install apps or change the family rules.

5. Block YouTube through your router

Your router distributes the internet connection at home. Some routers have website filters or parental controls. These can limit multiple devices without changing settings separately on each device.

1. Open your router’s settings. Follow the manual for this.
2. Look for website filters or rules that you can set per device.
3. First choose one device to test the block.
4. Block YouTube with the available website filter. Then try the app and the website.
5. Does the rule work as you want? Then apply it to the other devices you want to limit.

This block does not apply when the device uses mobile data or another network. Router filters also do not all work in the same way. If a video continues playing, that does not necessarily mean you entered something incorrectly.

Suppose you only want to limit the tablet during homework. If possible, choose that tablet in the router settings. This way, you do not need to limit the entire home network.

6. Block YouTube with a DNS filter

DNS helps a device find the internet address of a website. A DNS filter can block certain addresses. You can set up such a filter on a device or on your router.

1. Choose a filtering service that lets you block websites or services yourself.
2. Check whether you can block YouTube separately. A filter for mature content does not do the same thing.
3. Follow the service’s setup guide for your device or router.
4. After setting it up, test both the YouTube app and the website.

The filter can be bypassed if a device uses different DNS settings or a VPN. A VPN routes the internet connection through another server.

A DNS filter can also block something you actually need. For example, a YouTube video on a school website. Therefore, check such pages as well.

7. Block YouTube through the hosts file

The hosts file is on your computer. You can use it to direct a website address to another address. Choose this method mainly for your own computer if you have experience with system settings.

1. Make a copy of the original hosts file before changing anything.
2. Use instructions for your operating system to open the file with permission to modify it.
3. Add only the website addresses you want to block. Leave the existing rules in place.
4. Test whether YouTube is blocked and whether other websites still open normally.

An example rule is 127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com. It sends that one address back to your own computer. This does not block all the connections YouTube uses.

Other addresses may still work. Someone may also undo the change. The rule applies only to this computer, not automatically to your phone or tablet. Do not want to modify system files? Then choose device management settings instead.

8. Temporarily block YouTube with a website blocker

Want to prevent yourself from repeatedly opening YouTube during a task? Then use a website blocker, such as a browser extension. Before installing it, check what access it requests to data about your website visits.

1. Choose a blocker that works in the browser you usually use.
2. Add YouTube to the list of blocked websites.
3. Set a time period if the blocker offers that option.
4. During that period, try to open YouTube.
5. Keep your phone out of reach if you would otherwise continue watching on it.

For example, you can block YouTube from 19.00:20.00 to : while you work on an assignment. Do you need an instructional video for it? Watch it beforehand or schedule separate time for it.

Another browser or device may still provide access. You may also be able to disable the extension. For your own focus, that extra step may be enough. As the sole form of parental control, a website blocker is less suitable.

Limit YouTube with YouTube Kids or Restricted Mode

Want to continue allowing videos without showing everything? Then look at YouTube Kids or Restricted Mode. They do something different from blocking YouTube completely.

Block a video or channel in YouTube Kids

In YouTube Kids, you can block videos and channels. A channel block does not automatically stop reposted videos and similar channels.

Is it about one channel? Then read the explanation about blocking a YouTube channel.

Also check whether your child can still open regular YouTube. Setting up YouTube Kids does not close off the regular service. You must arrange that separately.

Filter potentially mature content with Restricted Mode

Restricted Mode may filter mature content, but it does not stop all unsuitable videos. YouTube remains usable. This mode therefore does not replace an app block, website block or time limit.

Check whether YouTube is really blocked

Test on the device and from the account for which you set up the block. Go through these points:

• App: completely close YouTube and reopen the app.
• Website: try the homepage and a link that goes directly to a video.
• Browsers: test every browser on the device.
• Accounts: check whether YouTube works through another profile or as a guest.
• Connection: Are you using a block on the home network? Then also test mobile data if the device has it.
• Other websites: open a page containing a YouTube video.
• Settings: check whether your child can disable the block themselves.

Can you still open YouTube somewhere? Then adjust the setting that applies to it. If the website still works, check the website filter. Removing the app again will not help with that.

Repeat the check after a major update or when you start using a new device. Once your account is working as intended, you can explore our YouTube services to compare packages for subscribers and views for your public profile or content.